The Meaning of Consensus in Islamic Law and the Status of Muslims who reject it

Answered by the Fatwa Department Research Committee – chaired by Sheikh Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî, at IslamToday.net

Hadith on Consensus: Muslims should try to form a majority agreement if possible

Anas ibn Malik reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, saying, “Indeed, my nation will not agree upon misguidance, so if you see differences then follow the greatest majority.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Trials, Number 3950, Da’eef]

أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَا تَجْتَمِعُ عَلَى ضَلَالَةٍ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ اخْتِلَافًا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالسَّوَادِ الْأَعْظَمِ

سنن ابن ماجه  كِتَاب الْفِتَنِ  إن أمتي لا تجتمع على ضلالة فإذا رأيتم اختلافا فعليكم بالسواد الأعظم

Hadith on Authority: The Prohibition of Desiring Power and Authority over People

Narrated Abu Musa : Two of my cousins and I entered (the house of) the Prophet. One of them said: “Messenger of Allah, appoint us rulers of some lands that the Almighty and Glorious God entrusted to your care.” The other also said something similar. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Without doubt, by Allah, we do not appoint anyone to this position who asks for it or desires it.”

[Sahih Muslim, Book 20, Number 4489]

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَا وَرَجُلاَنِ مِنْ بَنِي عَمِّي فَقَالَ أَحَدُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمِّرْنَا عَلَى بَعْضِ مَا وَلاَّكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ‏ إِنَّا وَاللَّهِ لاَ نُوَلِّي عَلَى هَذَا الْعَمَلِ أَحَدًا سَأَلَهُ وَلاَ أَحَدًا حَرَصَ عَلَيْهِ